Feast of St Peter and Paul homily (29 June 2025)

 

FEAST OF ST PETER AND PAUL HOMILY, MATT. 16:13-19, JUNE 29, 2025 

STORY

One day Fr. John, a missioner, met a poor elderly lady and helped her by giving her some food and clothes.  She was happy to receive this help and at the same time very surprised that the missioner was so kind to her.  She asked him why he was so kind.  He replied that it was a person named Jesus who instructed him to be helpful and kind to people and to tell people how much he loved them.   She then asked him where this Jesus lived.  He told her that Jesus lived on earth 2,000 years ago.  His answer really took her by surprise and she responded by asking why it took so long for her to know about Jesus and how much he loved people seeing that he lived so long ago.  There are still several billion people who have not heard about Jesus and so do not know that he loves them. 

 

GOSPEL, MATTHEW 16: 13-19

A) I ENTRUST TO YOU THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

St. Peter was a fisherman who followed Jesus' call to follow him.  He preached the gospel and was made leader of the group of twelve.  He preached in Rome when he died as a martyr around AD 64.  Jesus gave him the keys of the kingdom as a sign of his special power in the Church. 

B) THROUGH MY PREACHING ALL NATIONS MIGHT HEAR THE GOSPEL

St. Paul was a devout Jew who persecuted the Church.  Then one day Jesus appeared to him and his life changed, he became a great missioner.  He travelled to many cities with one purpose in mind, to tell people that Jesus loved them.  He encouraged them to become followers of Jesus.  He too preached in Rome and like St. Peter was martyred around AD 64.

 

APPLICATION TO LIFE

Jesus wished us to follow the examples of St. Peter and St. Paul, to become missioners in our daily lives.  Here are three suggestions to help you be a missioner.

1. PRAY

Select a person, a relative, friend, a colleague or a classmate who has never heard of Jesus or one, who though baptized, has left following Jesus and say one Hail Mary each day for that person's conversion to Jesus.  Do this every day even if it takes many years before the conversion.

2. LEARN

Learn more about Jesus.  He is the way to heaven, he tells us the truth about right and wrong and he gives us eternal life.  He is the living bread come down from heaven to give us spiritual strength, the good shepherd who protects us as we journey along in life.  Jesus is the source of our peace, happiness and joy.

3. SHARE

If you ask people if they are looking for Jesus, they would say no or be puzzled by your question. But if you ask them are they looking for peace and happiness in their lives, most if not all would say yes. We can share with them that it is not material goods, pleasure, fame or power that will give them what they truly want. It is Jesus who is the source of peace, happiness and joy. This is what we can share with people.                                                                      

 

CONCLUSION

The poor elderly lady in the story was happy to receive the missioner’s help and to learn that Jesus loved her.  St. Peter and St. Paul, both great missioners, helped people and told them that Jesus loves them and wishes to give them peace, happiness and eternal life.  We are missioners and follow the example of these two great missionary saints by our prayers, learning more about Jesus and sharing this good news with others.